POLITICALLY DIRECT

Christians are slackers

Exclusive: Jane Chastain wants believers to repent of inaction in political process

Jane Chastain is a Southern California-based broadcaster, author and political commentator. Despite her present emphasis on politics, Jane always will be remembered as the nation's first female TV sportscaster, spending 17 years on the sports beat. Jane blogs at JaneChastain.com. She is a pilot who lives on a private runway.

Christians are political slackers. We have failed to defend the values upon which this country was founded. We have failed to defend the Constitution, and we have failed to defend our military men and women who have pledged to defend this country with their very lives if necessary.

As we approach the birthday of our nation, most get all teary-eyed when the flag is raised and the “Star-Spangled Banner” is played. Unfortunately, this yearly display is rarely followed by the actions necessary to keep this country “the land of the free” and “the home of the brave.”

It is a sad fact that only about half of all those who identify themselves as Christians are registered to vote. On Election Day, only about half of those who are registered show up at the polls.

When we do vote, we are as likely as any other group to be swayed by a pretty face or a clever speech. Few of us bother examining a candidate’s stand on the issues and the political platform on which he or she runs. Fewer still measure that stand against our plumb line, the Word of God.

Many of our forefathers bled and died to give us a country that has freedoms unknown in many parts of the world. Unfortunately, most of us can’t be bothered to walk a few blocks (or drive in air-conditioned comfort) to a polling place or drop a ballot in the mailbox outside our door. How shameful!

If we live according to God’s word, we are to be salt and light in the world. In a republic form of government, that means – at the very least – being an active, informed, registered voter.

That is why Christian Coalition has designated this Sunday, July 4, as “Citizenship Sunday.” In addition to singing “God Bless America,” this is a perfect time to address our responsibility as citizens and conduct a voter-registration drive.

While it may be too late to obtain a stack of voter-registration forms, in most states voters can print one out online and stick it in the mail. It’s a simple matter to set up a table with a computer and print them out one by one. Then, give out pre-addressed, stamped envelopes.

One thing churches can and should do is educate their members on pending legislation and policy changes. The liberal line, “You can’t legislate morality,” is false. It is meant to scare you out. There is no such thing as a value-free law or a value-free piece of legislation. Every law is based on someone’s set of values.

We now have laws protecting the wholesale slaughter of children in the womb, homosexual behavior and pornography. We have allowed our public-school clinics to hand out condoms and birth-control devices to our children, even take our children for abortions without our knowledge or consent. This has happened because we don’t vote and we don’t take part in the political process.

This Sunday, on the birthday of our nation, most churches will recognize our veterans and those on active duty in the military. That is as far as it goes. Most have not lifted a finger to protect the 1993 law preventing open homosexuality in the military (mislabeled “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”). Military life is hard enough without having the guy in the next bunk hit on you.

The Obama administration announced plans to abolish this law – but, don’t forget, Congress makes the laws that govern the military and you elect the members of Congress. Your member of the House of Representatives and your two senators need to hear from you now.

Active-duty military personnel are not permitted to lobby Congress. That’s our job. It’s the very least we can do for our men and women in uniform. Phone calls, letters and e-mails are urgently needed. Remember, your silence is a permission slip.

Also, most of us will sit idly by while the Senate approves the unqualified, radical gay-rights activist Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. This nomination can and should be stopped. When senators feel the heat, they see the light.

In a republic such as ours, the people who work the hardest are going to have laws that reflect their values. It’s as simple as that.

This Sunday is a perfect time to repent and begin living out your faith.